My Wishlist

TIme to Be With You

When it is time, everything will fall into place they say, and I think that piece of wisdom was right. Obviously there still will be some bumps along the way, but if it is your destiny that was truly meant for you, no matter what the odds, nothing can ever alter the heartbeat of your existence. After close to 18 years in the corporate world, finally made the leap of faith to pursue the dream of becoming the female “Sinatra”; I still enjoy my corporate life, as it is something I have “learned” to do well, however as I find “music” the core of my “DNA”, what can one do but to give it a chance! Herewith, if you miss the good old crooners - Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby - though I may be too bold in trying to find any resemblance to such greatness, nevertheless perhaps the “Jean Youn” kind of crooning can somewhat take you back to those glory days? Two of my originals are included as well - the title track “Time to Be with You” and “The Clock Tick Tocks”.

ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

For folks who miss the good old crooners…Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole…though I may be too bold in trying to find any resemblance with such greatness, nevertheless perhaps the “Jean Youn” kind of crooning can somewhat take you back to those glory days?

In earnest, my goal as a jazz vocalist is to pursue the era of these legends, but of course with the touch of my own unique twists. Hence in short, my dream is to be the female “Sinatra”! Herewith, this Christmas Album is very much based on such a “feel”, trying to capture those good old days of black and white movies, the romantic ambiance of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but set in the modern present of today.

The title song “Time to Be With You” is my very first original piece ever, along with “The Clock Tick Tocks” which is on the second track of the album. “Time to Be with You”, a bit of a popular tune rather than standard jazz, was made on a taxi ride home this September whilst desperately searching to include a song that would be for “people in love” on Christmas day; “The Clock Tick Tocks” is the jazzy piece, which tells the story that grown-ups still dream of Christmas - no matter how old we may become! Moreover the duets in the album are done with my baby brother….

Being in the equity stock market during the day, while as a jazz vocalist, pursuing as much as I can in the evenings, the struggles are not easy at times; however I would not trade or change anything in my life. Thus as long as the Almighty allows, I plan to keep going.

Within the midst of a nasty cold, intense human communication and simply being pressed of time, though over enthused with the excitement of having to work on a lifelong dream, at times I must admit that it felt like skating on thin ice.

But as life shows us ever so often, if it is to be, no matter what the unpleasant forces of nature may conjure, as is the fairy tales’ of Walt Disney, the good guys do always seem to get the happy ending! Not sure if I can compare, however as “music” to me is all about creating innate “joy”, something tells me that the Almighty, my dear fairy God the Father, truly spared more than the necessary amount of His twinkle dust; hence despite the curves along the way that I may seek a happy ending as well?

My talented and healthy group of musician members, my mentors; everyone and every event that were part of this memorable process - especially having my baby brother join in on the vocals - has been a testimony to all that. Indeed, although the preparation schedule was rigorous, in my head there remains only the laugher and the sincerity of the hearts who simply craved in making good music!

Well, here we are my first official Christmas album “Time to be with you”. It is made up of 15 endearing pieces, naturally that of which have been cherished since throughout my childhood, plus two of my first ever “Jean Youn” originals - “Time to be with you” and “The clock tick tocks”. Furthermore, such as Edelweiss, due to the countless lovely Christmas memories embedded, songs that are far from the so called general realm of Christmas carols have too been included: I realized that every song I had the pleasure of singing has a memory or a thought, that makes me shrug with still a school-girl like happy bliss; particularly that of Christmas!

Black and white movies, ice-skating at Rockefeller center, Sound of Music, The Little Princess, Christmas shows at church and of course my mother’s Christmas tree and my father playing good old Bing Crosby’s White Christmas on the record player…hmm…such priceless memories…it does not get better than this!